Tulum, Chichen Itza

With my passport firmly in my pocket, I arrived on the Yucatan Peninsula in southeast Mexico. The peninsula stretches out into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and it's divided into a few states, with Yucatan, Quintana Roo, and Campeche being the major players. Belize is also part of the picture, located at the peninsula's southern end, bordering Mexico.

One thing that makes the Yucatan Peninsula stand out is its unique geological formation. The limestone that dominates the landscape has created a huge network of underground rivers and sinkholes called cenotes. These cenotes support a wonderful aquatic ecosystem and are home to blind fish, crustaceans, and other creatures that have adapted to these subterranean environments.

But the peninsula's location is another factor that sets it apart. It's situated right at the intersection of two major biogeographical regions - the Nearctic and the Neotropical. The Nearctic region is known for its freezing winters and temperate summers. The plants and animals in this region either hibernate or head south when winter rolls around. Meanwhile, the Neotropical region is characterized by its warm, tropical climate and heavy rainfall, which creates lush rainforests and other dense ecosystems. This unique meeting point of two regions has led to an incredible diversity of flora and fauna that thrive in this environment. Many species, such as the Yucatan spider monkey and the Cozumel raccoon, are endemic to this area.

Another famous spot on the Yucatan Peninsula is the Chicxulub Crater. This massive crater was formed by an asteroid impact around 66 million years ago, and it's believed to have been the cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs. The crater is about 110mi (180km) wide and 12mi (20km) deep, with half of it on the peninsula and the other half submerged underwater. Clusters of cenotes dot the crater's border, indicating that a water basin was inside the crater after the impact.

The Yucatan Peninsula was home to many ancient civilisations, the most prominent and longest-lasting being the Maya. Emerging around 2000 BC, this civilisation consisted of various tribes that spoke different languages in the Mayan language family. They prospered until the 16th century when the Spanish arrived, marking the start of the colonial era.

The Maya contributed significantly to advanced writing, mathematics, and astronomical systems. They are also associated with constructing the colossal, stepped pyramids, such as the famed Kukulcan Pyramid (aka El Castillo) in Chichen Itza.

I started this journey in Tulum, a coastal Maya ruin that sits atop a cliff, overlooking stunning beaches and the turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea. Tulum was a bustling Maya city between the 13th and 16th centuries. The name "Tulum" means "wall" in the Yucatec Maya language and refers to the fortified walls that used to surround the city. Some people believe it may have also been called Zama at some point, which means "City of the Dawn" because it faced the sunrise.

There are some amazing highlights at Tulum, including the El Castillo (The Castle) temple, the Temple of Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God. El Castillo is perched on a cliff and might have been used as a lighthouse guiding ships into the port. The Temple of the Frescoes is a two-storey structure with well-preserved murals on its façade. It was used to track the movement of the sun. The Temple of the Descending God features a sculpture of a Maya deity descending a staircase. It is identified as the god of fertility and agriculture and one of the most recognisable images in Maya art.

After the Spanish conquest, Tulum was abandoned and forgotten until the 20th century, when it was rediscovered and restored. Nowadays, it's a major tourist destination and one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites.

Next up, I'm heading west to check out Coba, another ancient Maya city.